auto da fe
The term "auto da fe," meaning "act of faith" in Portuguese, refers to a historical practice during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions involving public ceremonies for pronouncing and executing sentences on heretics.
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Definition
C1Historical
(formal, academic)A public ceremony during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions where judgments on heretics were announced and carried out.
Example
- The auto da fe was a grim spectacle that drew large crowds during the Inquisition.
- Many accused heretics faced their fate during an auto da fe.
C2Religious
(historical)A ritual involving public penance and punishment, often by burning at the stake, for those condemned by the Inquisition.
Example
- The auto da fe served as a severe warning to those who defied the Catholic Church.